What percentage of coral reefs were effectively lost or in critical state by 2008?

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Coral Reef Status in 2008

By 2008, a significant portion of the world's coral reefs were reported to be in a severely degraded state. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) indicated that 19% of coral reefs had been effectively lost, with an additional 15% classified as being in a critical condition.
Effectively Lost Coral Reefs

In 2008, the GCRMN's findings highlighted a substantial loss of coral reef ecosystems globally. The figure of 19% effectively lost signifies reefs that have deteriorated to a point where their ecological function is severely compromised or entirely absent.
Critically Endangered Coral Reefs

Alongside those effectively lost, another 15% of the world's coral reefs were identified as being in a critical state in 2008, according to the GCRMN. This classification suggests these reefs were under extreme pressure and at high risk of further degradation or complete loss if conditions did not improve.
Context of Degradation

These statistics from 2008 emerged during a period when coral bleaching events, driven by rising sea temperatures linked to global warming and El Niño effects, were becoming more frequent. The GCRMN report also noted emerging threats such as ocean acidification and increased coastal pollution, further compounding the pressures on coral reef health worldwide.

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What percentage of coral reefs were effectively lost or in critical state by 2008?

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